Dear IRT Members,
I hope you are well - it’s been a while since I contacted you all. As Karen wrote in my absence, ICANN org has been hard at work since Prague drafting careful and comprehensive updates to the UDRP and URS documentation.
This has taken longer to complete than was perhaps expected, necessitating the cancellation of our last meeting, but we are pleased to be able to share our first proposed set of updates with you today.
Before going further, I would like to remind you all that our
next meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday, 6 August 2025 at 13:00-14:00 UTC. This was arranged at the end of June, so everyone should have the invite in their inbox.
If not, please contact us on list. An updated meeting timetable through August and September will be shared for your information during our next meeting, with notifications for further meetings issuing at the beginning of next week.
I have uploaded the revised UDRP and URS documents onto our external IRT Drive, in the linked
folder. They are attached as Word documents for those who lack Google Drive access. The updated documents can also be found at the links below, including a comprehensive cover note/overview providing context on our drafting approach. The cover note also
notes additional issues for IRT feedback and I advise everyone to read it before moving starting on the updates proper. Everyone should be able to access the documents and leave comments –
alert Renate or me if this is not the case:
UDRP Updates:
URS Updates:
For ease of review, updates and amendments are indicated on the google docs in suggested (pink or green) text, alongside explanatory notes to provide additional context where necessary.
Please leave comments on the documents – we request that you do not edit the text directly or accept/reject edits. We can also receive feedback on list or in a copy of the attached word documents, for those lacking Google capability. While verbal feedback
on call is always valued and welcome, written feedback is especially helpful in helping us identify how to address issues in subsequent drafts and is encouraged.
These are substantial documents which will require time to consider properly. We are also mindful that we are in summertime and for many you, vacation season. Accordingly, our meeting on Wednesday will primarily be a
walk-through of the documents and updated schedule. Everyone will then be given adequate time to read them and respond with feedback, comments, or issues, which we will address in the next and subsequent meetings.
As highlighted in the cover note, we are also beginning the process of reaching out to current UDRP and URS providers to explore their willingness to administer the new arbitral process. Depending on the outcome, additional
updates may be required, in addition to those that may be suggested by the IRT. We will keep the IRT updated on this activity and respond to any feedback you may have on this approach.
Please contact us with any questions or comments, individually or on list. Otherwise, I wish you all a happy weekend and look forward to meeting again on Wednesday. Thank you once again for your patience.
Sincerely,
Peter
Peter Eakin
Policy Research Specialist, Policy Research & Stakeholder Programs
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
Tel: + 32 493
547 913
Office: 6 Rond Point Schuman, Bt. 1, Brussels B-1040, Belgium